[Open Thread] Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators

       vs        

7:00PM TV:MSG Radio:WGR55

It's now or never for the Sabres if they want to make the playoffs.  As I've mentioned before, it will probably take 92 points to make the playoffs which means Buffalo will need to go 5-1-1 over the final seven games.  A loss tonight would make that an almost insurmountable 5-0-1 over the last six.  I'll break down the playoffs even more tonight because everyone is in action tonight.

5.  Senators  89  @ Buffalo

6.  NY Rangers 88 vs. Flyers

7.  Philadelphia 86 @ NY Rangers

8.  Boston    84  @ Toronto

9.  Washington 82 @ Carolina

10. Buffalo   81  vs. Ottawa

11. Florida   81  @ Tampa Bay

12. Toronto   80  vs. Boston

Sabres notes:   Thomas Vanek scored his 100th career goal on Friday night against the Leafs...Ales Kotalik reached the 100 goal mark on March 15...Vanek has four goals in his last two games...Vanek leads the Sabres with seven points against the Sens this season (3 goals, 4 assists)...Derek Roy has two goals and seven assists in his five game point streak...Jason Pominville has 10 points in his last four games (3-7-10)...Ryan Miller will be making his 29th consecutive start...Nathan Paetsch is expected to return to the lineup tonight.

Senators notes:  Jason Spezza is on a seven game point streak with five goals and five assists...The combined 250 points of Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza are the most of any three teammates in the NHL...Ottawa lost 7-5 to the Montreal Canadiens last night meaning tonight is the second game of back-to-back games...The Sens are 7-6-2 in the back end of back-to-back games this season.  

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Buffalo Leaders

Goals:Thomas Vanek 32
Assists:Jason Pominville 49
Points:Jason Pominville 75
Plus/minus:Jason Pominville +20
PIM:Andrew Peters 100

Senators Leaders

Goals:Dany Heatley 39
Assists:Jason Spezza 55
Points:Jason Spezza 87
Plus/minus:Dany Heatley +31
PIM:Chris Neil 160

Projected Sabres lines

Vanek-Roy-Stafford
Kotalik-Hecht-Pominville
Paille-Gaustad-Afinogenov
Kaleta-Mair-Bernier

Tallinder-Lydman
Sekera-Weber
Pratt-Paetsch